Retractable brushes with finger operated bristle plates



p 1952 R. PEILET ETAL RETRACTABLE BRUSHES WITH FINGER OPERATED BRISTLE PLATES Flled Sept 10 1959 INVENTORS Lester R. PeI leiy phlllp Kaqe ATTor-neqs United States Patent Ofifice 3,055,033 Patented Sept. 25, 1962 3,055,033 RETRACTABLE BRUSHES WITH FINGER OPERATED BRISTLE PLATES Lester R. Peilet, Tucson, Ariz., and Philip Kaye, Norridge, 111.; said Kaye assignor to said Peiiet Filed Sept. 10, 19:59, Ser. No. 839,128 1 Claim. (Cl. 15184) This invention relates to retractable brushes which may be used as hair brushes, clothes brushes, animal brushes, or for various other services.

One object of the present invention is to provide new and improved brushes of the type in which the bristles are adapted to be retracted into the body of the brush so that the brush will be extremely compact and smooth to the touch for storage, or for carrying the brush in a purse, pocket, handbag or the like.

A further object is to provide a new and improved brush of the type in which the bristles are retracted through apertures in a cleaning plate, so that hair or other foreign material will automatically be stripped off the bristles by the plate.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved brush of the foregoing character in which the bristles are adapted to be extended by the action of the fingers of the user in holding the brush.

A further object is to provide such a new and improved brush in which the bristles are automatically retracted when the person using the brush releases his hold on it and puts it down.

A further object is to provide a new and improved retractable brush which is easy to use, highly serviceable, and attractive in appearance, yet is easy to manufacture and low in cost.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following description, taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a retractable brush to be described as an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the brush being shown in its extended position.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the brush in its retracted position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a bristle plate, constituting a component of the brush shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view through the brush of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken generally along the line 5-5 in FIG. 4.

The drawings illustrate a brush 110 which comprises a plurality of bristles 112 which are retractable into a body 114. The body 114 has a pair of fiat longitudinal walls 116 and 118, with side walls 120 extending therebetween. A generally rectangular hollow space or opening 1 22 is formed within the body 114.

The bristles 112 are arranged in a large number of tufts 130 which are movable through apertures 132 in the wall 116. All of the bristles 112 may be mounted on a bristle member or plate 136 which is movable upwardly and downwardly within the opening 122.

In this case, the bristles 112 are adapted to be extended and retracted by means of a linkage or mechanism 150, which may be operated by the fingers of the user, in connection with the act of holding or gripping the brush. As shown, the mechanism 150 comprises a pair of levers 152 and 154 arranged somewhat in the manner of tongs. The levers 152 and 154 extend into the body 114 through a large generally rectangular opening 156 in the wall 118. It will be seen that the levers 152 and 154 are pivotally mounted on the body 114 by means of a long axle or pivot pin 158, which is strung through the levers and is inserted through apertured bosses 160 projecting outwardly from the wall 118.

The illustrated levers 152 and 154 have intermeshing fingers or arms 162 and 164. In this case, three such fingers 162 are formed on the lever 152, while two of the fingers 164 are formed on the lever 154. Slots or openings 166 are formed between the fingers 162. Similarly, slots or openings 168 are formed on the opposite sides of the fingers 164. The outer ends of the fingers 162 are connected together by means of a bar 170. Likewise, the outer ends of the fingers 164 are interconnected by a bar 172. It will be seen that the bars 170 and 172 overhang the opposite edges of the body 114 when the levers 152 and 154 are folded against the wall 118, as shown in FIG. 2.

The illustrated levers 152 and 154 have inner arms or fingers 174 and 176 which project into the opening 122 in the body 114, through the rectangular aperture 156 in the wall 118. The fingers 174 and 176 are 011- set from the corresponding fingers 162 and. 164, so that the levers 152 and 154 are generally Z-shaped in cross section, as shown to advantage in FIG. 4. Normally, the fingers 174 and 176 are folded fiat between the bristle plate 136 and a wall 118. In this position of the levers 152 and 154, the bristles 112 are retracted into the body 114.

When the levers 152 and 154 are grasped and swung upwardly from the body 114, as shown in FIG. 1, the bristle plate 136 is moved downwardly by the fingers 174 and 176. Thus, the bristles 112 are extended through the apertures 132 in the wall 116. The levers 152 and 154 may be employed as convenient handles, which may be held in the hand, as shown in FIG. 1, while the brush is being used in brushing the hair, or in any other service.

When the levers 152 and 154 are released, it is preferred that they be returned against the top of the body 114, by means of one or more spring 1811), which may be coiled from wire and may be strung on the pivot pin 158. The bristle plate 136 is returned by the return motion of the levers 152 and 154. Thus, the bristle plate 136 is coupled to the fingers 174 and 176 by means of sliding pin-and-slot connections 182. As shown, these connections comprise pins 184, which are formed or mounted on the fingers 174 and 176. The pins 184 are slideable along slots or tracks 186 in the ends of the bristle plate 136. In this case, each of the tracks 186 is defined by an overhanging L-shaped flange 188 which projects upwardly from the end of the bristle plates. When the levers 152 and 154 are returned against the body 114 by the springs 180, the pins 184 move the flanges 188 upwardly, and thereby return the bristle plate 136 to its retracted position.

When the brush is retracted, it is extremely compact and smooth to the touch so that it may be carried very conveniently in a purse, handbag or the like. The operating levers 152 and 154 are folded snugly against the body 114 of the brush. When it is desired to use the brush, the bar portions 170 and 172 of the levers 152 and 154 are grasped in the hand of the user and are swung upwardly and toward each other. This brings the fingers 174 and 176 into the opening 122 in the body 114, with the result that the bristle plate 136 is moved downwardly. Such movement of the bristle plate 136 extends the bristles so that they may be used very conveniently for brushing the hair, or for any other suitable service. When the bristles are again retracted, the apertured wall or plate 116 will strip or clean any hair or other foreign material 011 the bristles.

The various components of the brush. may readily be molded from various plastics. Each of the levers 3 152 and 154 may be molded in one piece. Thus, the brush may be manufactured at extremely low cost.

Thus, the present invention provides a retractable brush which is easy to use and highly serviceable. The bristles are extended by the action of the hand in holding the brush. When the bristles are retracted, the brush is remarkably compact and smooth to the touch, so that it may be carried very conveniently. Thus, the present invention provides brushes which are ideally suited for portable use.

Various other modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents may be employed without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as exemplified in the foregoing description and defined in the following claim.

We claim:

In a retractable brush, the combination comprising a body having first and second opposite walls defining a space therebetween, said second wall having a plurality of apertures therein, a bristle member movable across said space between said first and second walls, a plurality of bristles mounted on said member and extending into said apertures, a pair of tong lever pivotally mounted on said first wall and extending into said space for moving said bristle member toward said second wall and thereby extending said bristles through said apertures, said first wall having an opening therein, said levers extending through said opening into said space, spring means for biasing said levers toward said first wall to retract said bristle member, said levers having laterally projecting pins thereon, and flanges on said bristle member forming channels slidably receiving said pins, said bristle member being movable between said first and second walls by swinging movement of said levers for extending and retracting said bristles through said apertures, said bristle member being retracted by said spring means through the action of said pins and flanges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 670,254 Slater Mar. 19, 1901 1,093,107 Burns Apr. 14, 1914 2,604,648 Spitalny July 29, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 794,594 Great Britain May 7, 1958 

